Best Book of 2023

Star-Crossed by Pintip Dunn

This is not the book I thought I would be picking as my favorite for the year. In fact, when I pulled it off the shelf a few years ago, I thought it would be a fun trashy romance to add to my TBR. That's not what ended up happening.

In Princess Vela's society, there is not enough food to go around. Instead, a portion of the society, known as the Aegis, eats for everyone else. Vela is one of the Aegis. Aegis give up 60 years of their lives for a genetic modification that allows them to consume absurd amounts of food rich in nutrients, and then these nutrients are sucked out of them after every meal to be turned into pills to feed the rest of the society. It is illegal for anyone in Vela's society to eat real food unless they are an Aegis. Vela, therefore, is set up to be a sacrificial protagonist simply in the way she is written. It is challenging to dislike her because she loves her people, her father, and her best friend. She will do anything for them.

Vela's best friend has a taste of real food and begins to crave it. The effect this food has on her body is lethal. Unable to obtain nutrients from the pills, Vela's friend, Astana, begins to die. Vela wishes to save her friend and illegally brings her food, but she knows that if she does this, she may endanger others within her society. And, as a possible successor to her father's throne, Vela does not want to risk the kingdom falling into her sister Blanca's hands.

Besides trying to save her friend and trying to "beat" Blanca in the competition for queenship (for she does not trust Blanca to run the kingdom with fairness and love), there is an entire other level to this novel. Vela's father is dying. The only way to save him is a full organ transplant. The reason that the kingdom wishes to keep the same ruler is because it was foretold that Vela's father, who is a kind and loyal man, would be able to keep the kingdom together. However, Vela is put in the position to run the Fittest Trials, which will determine what young male will give his life for her father. Vela is torn when the love of her life, Carr-- who is also Astana's brother-- volunteers. Vela is torn between her love for her father, her love for her people, her love for Carr, and her love for Astana. It is her choice, ultimately, to decide who will die for her father. Or perhaps she won't choose at all.

The complexity of this story begins and ends with food. Food, as a central focus to the novel, calls to mind the primitive parts of ourselves that simply wish to stay alive. With stark images of gardens full of monuments to the dead, the book shines with religious imagery, and also with themes of sacrifice. The plot and setting are the most unique I have ever read about. Never once when reading this book did I say: "this reminds me of..." (and I tried!). Vela's love for her family and friends and people makes this a powerful story that pulls at the heartstrings. The story is fast-paced and a moving read.

I originally wanted this to be a trashy, fun romance, but it gave me so much more. Gasps, tears, and a fuller heart. This book doesn't have much of a fandom, and many haven't heard of it, but I truly believe it deserves to be recognized for the impact it had on me.

Perhaps one thing I learned from this novel: don't judge a book by its cover...